Today's Scrap of Bronze (and a tour of the west side cemetery, St. Johns, Arizona)

Plaque on the cemetery gate. Transcription: "IN TRIBUTE TO OUR ANCESTORS THIS SESQUICENTENNIAL YEAR - 1980 / ST. JOHNS 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH L.D.S. WARDS." 

St. Johns has two main cemeteries (apart from any previous family burial locations from pioneer times.) One of them is a little way to the east of town, and one is to the north of town. 

This post focuses on the wind-swept cemetery on a hill north of town. A local historian, Roy Wilhelm, said that long ago, the original cemetery (or part of it) was moved from a marshy location on the side of that hill to higher ground (its current location on the flat top of the hill.)
 

  

This little town has a long, proud history of patriotism and military service. This large flagpole greets visitors at the gate.

Holidays mean fresh flags, a beautiful tribute to the veterans.

 A view in any direction abounds with flags.
 

How many can you count in the above picture? 

St. Johns Arizona: Stake Academy/Church, D.U.P. monument, and Time Capsule

This is the older of two L.D.S. Church buildings in St. Johns, Arizona. 

This monument stands on a corner of one of the main intersections in town.

Transcription: "DAUGHTERS OF UTAH PIONEERS

"NO. 194 

"ERECTED 1954

"PIONEER PUBLIC BUILDINGS

"THE OLD BOWERY WAS THE FIRST PLACE OF PUBLIC WORSHIP USED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LATTER DAY SAINTS CHURCH WHO CAME TO ST. JOHNS IN 1879-1880. THE ASSEMBLY HALL, LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE, WAS ERECTED IN 1882. IT WAS BUILT OF LOGS AND SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR SCHOOL, CHURCH, AND ALL PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES. HERE ST. JOHNS STAKE OF THE CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED JULY 23, 1887. THE CHURCH ACADEMY WAS FOUNDED JANUARY 14, 1889 AND THE BUILDING DEDICATED DECEMBER 16, 1900.

"CAMP SALEM / APACHE COUNTY ARIZONA"

This time capsule is next to the south entrance to the church, the portion of the building which was the Stake Academy. 
 Transcription: "-TIME CAPSULE -

"DEPOSITED BY / THE ST JOHNS ARIZONA STAKE / CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST / OF LATTER DAY SAINTS / JULY 25 1976 OPEN JULY 24 2076 / WILFORD J SHUMWAY STAKE PRES"

A time-capsule. What a romantic idea. I would love to be there when it is opened, but I will probably not still be alive! 

The time capsule is a couple of yards from the double-door pictured below, imbedded in the concrete. Local historians say that this oldest portion of the building (the left half of this picture) was the old St. Johns Stake Academy before it was a church, and that it educated students from communities in the whole region. It has been added onto many times.

American Legion Greer DeWitt Post 31

St. Johns American Legion Greer DeWitt Post 31. Main Street, St. Johns Arizona, in the old downtown district. Building faces north.

 Several views. I love the older architecture.

In front window.

For the History Nerd in All of Us.

Click here to visit The Historical Marker Database
http://www.hmdb.org/

I recommend it! Simple to use. Lots of good information.

Ever Heard of Salem, Arizona?

 

Transcription: 

"Sons of the Utah Pioneers

"SALEM

"THIS MONUMENT OVERLOOKS THE SITE OF THE FIRST MORMON SETTLEMENT IN ST. JOHNS

"The first Mormons (about 50 families) to settle in this area established the small community of Salem which was located about one-half mile north of here in November 1879. Upon the advice of church leaders, the decision was made on October 9, 1880, to move the settlement to higher ground which was the present site of St. Johns.

"Site No. 14 / Little Colorado River Chapter Sons of the Utah Pioneers / Dedicated July 25, 1987" 

The monument is located in the north end of the St. Johns Cemetery. It overlooks these fields north of St. Johns. Notice the clay hills (the "Blue Hills") in the distance.

"In August of 1880, the first Mormon settlement in St. Johns, Arizona was established with D. K. Udall as the first bishop. President John Taylor charged the settlers to keep proper accounts, organize the Priesthood, collect and account for tithing’s, and teach diligently. This settlement was named after the ancient biblical city of Salem where Abraham paid tithes to the great High Priest, later known as Jerusalem." -Pioneer Monuments site of Sons of the Utah Pioneers